Shocked and dejected, business magnate Ratan Tata on Wednesday took to Instagram to to demand justice for the death of a pregnant elephant in Kerala. The elephant dies after eating a cracker stuffed pineapple

Key highlights

• A pregnant elephant dies on May 27 after allegedly consuming pineapple stuffed with crackers
• Ratan Tata demands justice for the death of pregnant elephant
• Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar assures strict action against people responsible
• Kerala Forest department launches 'manhunt' for those responsible for the elephant's death
• Shocking incident has attracted huge condemnation on social media

In a moving post, Ratan Tata said that he was grieved and shocked to know that a group of people caused the death of an innocent, passive pregnant elephant.

Humanity has failed again...........
One of my SandArt on save #Elephant. pic.twitter.com/nzcM4PNDvr

— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 3, 2020

While expressing his disappointment, the 82-year-old business magnate further said that such criminal acts against innocent animals are no different than acts of meditated murder against other humans. At a time when the painful death of the elephant has brought disgrace to humanity, Tata demanded justice for the innocent animal and wrote, "Justice needs to prevail."

Here's what Ratan Tata wrote:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ratan Tata (@ratantata) onJun 3, 2020 at 8:25am PDT

Since being shared online, the post garnered nearly 6 lakh likes and hundreds of comments supporting Ratan Tata's views. PETA India also commented on Tata's moving post and said that a case has been registered against unidentified persons and are hopeful of nabbing the perpetrators soon. One user wrote, "Strict action should be taken,"while another commented, "Thanks for raising voice against this cruel act."

Mallapuram is know for its intense criminal activity specially with regards to animals. No action has ever been taken against a single poacher or wildlife killer so they keep doing it.
I can only suggest that you call/email and ask for action pic.twitter.com/ii09qmb7xW

— Maneka Sanjay Gandhi (@Manekagandhibjp) June 3, 2020

Condemning the heinous crime, BJP MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi slammed the CPM-led Kerala government over the shocking incident. While speaking to news agency ANI she said, "It is not an incident. It is a murder. A pregnant elephant was fed a pineapple filled with bomb that exploded its mouth. Malappuram is very famous for incidents like this. It is the most violent district in the whole of India."

A screengrab of PETA India's comment on Ratan Tata's post

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar assured stern action against those behind the killing of the pregnant elephant. "Environment Ministry has taken a serious note of the death of an elephant in Kerala. Has sought complete report on the incident. Stern action will be taken against the culprit(s)," Javadekar said.

FIR lodged against unidentified people under relevant sections of Wild Life Protection Act over the incident wherein a pregnant elephant died in Malappuram after being fed a pineapple stuffed with crackers: Mannarkkad forest range officer #Kerala (File pic) pic.twitter.com/exLBKZGTRd

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2020

The Kerala Forest department has launched a 'manhunt' for those who are responsible for the death of the 15-year-old pregnant wild elephant, an official said. The whole issue came to the limelight when Forest officer Mohan Krishnan shared chilling details of the incident on his Facebook page.

The central government on Thursday also took a serious note of the incident of pregnant elephant's death and said that it will be investigated properly.

With inputs from agencies

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news